Village East suspect free on bond
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Houma city police were following regulations and established procedures when a most-wanted drug criminal escaped from their custody last week, the agency’s chief maintains.
Some veteran police officers familiar with the case, however, are questioning why Chance Franklin, who had active warrants for second-degree battery and heroin possession at the time of his arrest last Monday, was brought to HPD headquarters and not the Terrebonne Parish jail.
While in custody after his arrest by uniformed officers in east Houma, Franklin asked to use a bathroom at HPD. At that point he sprinted to freedom, freely exiting the building. Attempts by Houma police joined by deputies to locate Franklin were not successful and he remains at large.
“We have transported prisoners with all kinds of criminal history, we have a secure environment within out office,” Chief Dana Coleman said. “When we make an arrest we usually go to HPD to complete the necessary paperwork prior to transporting prisoners to jail.”
Franklin’s drug dealing history goes back to 2007 when he was identified as an associate of the Up Da Bayou Boyz gang, which terrorized the Morgan Street area and was crushed by federal officials.
Franklin was charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine in 2009.
According to federal officials and documents filed in New Orleans federal court, informants made drug buys from Franklin for more than a year during a long and arduous investigation.
In the 2009 case Franklin was indicted on three federal drug distribution counts. He gave a plea to one count – conspiring to distribute more than 50 grams of cocaine and was sentenced to 7 ½ years in prison. A change in sentencing guidelines resulted in a change in sentence and Franklin was on the streets again within 5 years.
In addition to the local warrants, Franklin is wanted for federal parole violation, authorities said.
In January authorities attempted to arrest Franklin and other heroin distribution suspects when they raided a suspected drug operation at 208 Academy Street.
At that time Terrebonne Narcotics Task Force agents said they encountered 29-year-old Elvin Mills, who was armed with a pistol. A search warrant was executed and Ryan Austin, 32, bailed out a back window, leaving behind a semi-automatic pistol loaded with Teflon-coated rounds, which are capable of defeating police body armor.
Search warrants were executed at two additional addresses – 801 Lafayette and 800 Grinage streets – after a covert investigation and a series of other arrest warrants for heroin and meth distribution.
Several of those same locations were scoured last week during the search for Franklin, but unsuccessfully so.
